Centrifugal concentrator



Patented Feb. 14, 1939 CENTRIFUGAL CONCENTRATORY Oscar J. Lonergan,Fairbanks, Territory of Alaska Application June 9, 1937, Serial No.147,368

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements incentrifugal concentrators for use particularly in recovering gold,platinum, iridium, etc., and has for one of its important objects toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of thischaracter embodying riflies of a novel construction and arrangement.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a concentrator of theaforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use,compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe sev- 20 eral views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a concentrator constructed in accordancewith the present invention, the power shaft and material chute beingshown in horizontal section.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the invention, takensubstantially on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a bowlI of suitable dimensions and material. The bowl I is fixed on the lowerend portion of a vertical power shaft 2. Of course, the shaft 2 may bedriven from any suitable source of power. The material enters the lowerportion of the bowl I through a chute or tube 3 which enclosed the shaft2in spaced, concentric relation thereto, the lower end of said tubebeing spaced from the bottom of the bowl I, as illustrated to advantagein Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Fixed in the bowl I is a plurality of spaced riiiies 4. As also showntoadvantage in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the riflies 4 are substantially ofS-shape in cross section with one curved portion connected with the wallof the bowl and having its concave face uppermost and the other curvedportion, which is a free portion, having its concave face lowermost sothat these riiiies act to effectually hold the precious metals fromescaping by the riflies.

Of course, any desired number of riiiies 4 may be used.

In operation, the fines enter the bowl I from the tube 3. The bowl I is,of course, rotating with the power shaft 2. The fines entering the bowlare held in suspension by a ratio of approximately percent water andapproximately 20 percent fines. the center around the The lightmaterials are drawn to tube 3 by centripetal force,

their place being taken by the heavier materials according to thespecific weight. gravity is overcome by centrifugal force.

The force of The precious metals are thrown against the bowl I and intothe riiiles 4 where they remain until removed. The waste materials aredischarged over the top of the bowl I It is believed that the manyadvantages of a concentrator constructed in accordance with the presentinvention will although a preferred be readily understood and embodimentof the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understoodthat changes in the details of construction and in the combination andarrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scopeof the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A concentrator of the class described comprising a bowl of substantiallysemi-spherical shape, means for rotating said bowl, a plurality ofannular rifiies connected in vertically spaced relation to the internalwalls of the bowl, said riflies gradually increasing in diameter fromthe lowermost one and said lowermost one being spaced from smooth.

OSCAR J, LONERGAN.

Feb. 14, 1939. Q J ERGAN Y 2,147,102

CENTRIFUGAL CONCENTRATOR Filed June 9, 1957 Inventor ord T on eryan $9M19m Attorneys

